Chain propeller.



No. 643,752. Patented Feb. 2D, |900. W. C. RAUB.

CHAIN PRUPELLEB.

(Application led June 15, 1899.)

(No Model.)

'n-x: mams Patins Co, Puomurno.. WASHINGTON. n. c,

UNITED STATES PATENT EEICE.

WARREN o. EAUB, oE ST. LoUIs, MISSOURI.

o HAlN PR'OPELLER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Len-.ers raten@ No. 643,732', dated February 2o, 1906-.

i Application filed .Tune 15, 1899. Serial No. 720,697. (No model.)

To all wtont it' may concern.-

Be it known that LWARREN C. RAUB, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, State'of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Paddle-Wheels,

of which the following is afull, clear,and eX-A act description, reference being had to the accompanyin g drawings, forming a part hereof.

My invention has relation to improvements in paddle-wheels for boat propulsion; and it consists in the novel arrangement and combination of parts more fullyv set forth in the specification and pointed out in the claim.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged section on line 2 2 of Fig. 3, showing two consecutive blades in their travel about the wheelperiphery. Fig. 3 isan elevation of one of the blades and rings embracing the same, the cables being shown in Section and the tooth of the sprocket-wheel dotted, the blade being broken partly away; and Fig. 4 is a detail of a cable-tightener.

The object of my invention is to construct a paddle-wheel in which the blades shallfor the major portion of their travel in the water move at a tangent to the periphery of the wheel,irrespective of the length of the diameter of said wheel. By this arrangement the blade travels through the water in a direction at vright angles to the surface ofthe blade, thereby utilizing to the best advantage the reactionary force of the water and increasing the eiciency of the wheel to a maximum.

In detail the invention may be described as follows:

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents one of the side timbers of a vessel adapted to support the shafts 2, 2', and 2'/ of the paddledrums and intermediate crank-arm, respectively.

3 represents the engine; 4, a pitm an; 5 5, the crank-arms of the drums 6 6, and 5' the intermediate crank-arm, which isV connected to the arms 5 5 by a connecting-rod 4C. Disposed along the periphery of each drum 6, in lines parallel to the axis of rotation thereof, are a series of ridges 7, performing the function of sprocket-teeth, the outer edge of each ridge being provided with a series of forked brackets 8,designed to receive the endless cables 9, by which the blades are carried. Each cable or bar l2, the deflected terminal ends or arms of which are riveted to the inside of the ring `11. (See Fig. 2.)

Provision may be made for tightening the cable, as seen in detail in Fig. 4, where the free ends of the cable 9 are secured to the op-v posite ends of an oblong loop 15, one of the free ends of the cable `being connected to a screw-'threaded bolt 16, over which is passed a tightening-n ut 17, normally bearing against two or more ribs 1S,formed with the loop. By turning the nut in proper direction it is obvious the cable may be tightened. The length of any blade or board 10 will of course depend on the length of the wheel,'and in Fig. 3 the board is shown broken away, indicating that its length is indefinite.

Eachl board or blade is directly secured to the bar 12 by bolts, as best seen in Fig. 2, this View showing a series of two blades the connecting-cable of which is shown as passing over one of the teeth of the sprocket-drum 6. In Fig. 1 the endless cable and blades are shown diagrammatieally without an attempt to bring ont the details shown in Fig. 2.

Whether the engine drives the drums 6 6 in one direction or the other it is obvious-that the lower series of blades (which are always submerged in the water) will travel in a direction tangent to the peripheries of the'drums and at right angles to the planes of their faces, the latter always bearing squarely against the water during their passage therethrough, and this whether the drums 6 6 are large or small. In the ordinary paddle -wheel in order to approximate the results here attained there would have to be constructed a paddle-wheel of unusual dimensions, as with a small wheel the tangent movement would be limited to a very small portion of the blades travel in the water. A

It is apparent that the device might be altered in many details without departing from the spirit of myinvention. The ridges 7 have their opposite faces concave, so as to accommodate the curvature of the rings or bands 11, which bear against them, this arrange- ICO ment serving to retain the blades approximately in the planes of the radii of the drums and cause them to leave the drums in a tangent to their peripheries.

In the present construction the drums serve to support the entire length of each blade as the latter passes over the same, and the intermediate series of cables serve to stiften each blade as the latter is drawn through the water.

It is obvious that the present invention may be utilized for the generation of power by partially submerging the Wheel below the surface of a running stream or current, the resistance of the blades to the current resulting in motion of the entire series, and consequent rotation of the drums by which the paddles are connected. From the shafts of the drums it is apparent that the power can be conveyed to any suitable machinery.

Having described my invention, what I claim is- A paddle Wheel comprising two drums, means for rotatingT the saine, ridges having concave faces, disposed about the peri pheries of the drums in lines parallel to the axes thereof, forked brackets disposed along the outer longitudinal edges of the ridges, a series of blades of substantially the full length of the drums, a series of circular rings surrounding each blade and distributed at intervals along the length thereof, the rings being positively supported by the concave faces of the ridges during the rotation of the drums, and insuring the retention of the blades in lines parallel to the radii of the drums, angle-bars for securing each blade centrally within the series of rings, endless cables passing through each board, angle-bar, and' ring, and traveling over the forked brackets disposed along the ridges, the blades between the drums traveling substantially in a path tangential to the peripheries of the drums, and means fortightening the cables, substantially asset forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature .in presence of two witnesses.

WARREN C. RAUB.

\Vitnesses:

EMIL STAREK, GEORGE L. BELFRY. 

